When I tried to remove my key from the ignition, the entire ignition cylinder came out!! My car had to be towed and have a new cylinder installed! A year later, it happened again!!! So I have had to replace my ford ignition cylinder twice and my car only has 60,000 miles on it now---so probably had only about 40,000 miles the first time it happened and 50,000 the second time. Also-- now my fuel gauge says empty all the time, even after I just filled it with gas! And it's too expensive to fix! I did get the driver seatbelt fixed, because it didn't tighten, but now it's too hard to pull out and use! Lastly, both inside mirror covers have just cracked off when lifting open, and I can't afford to replace both of the entire visors! We have 3 fords and this is the only one that's ever had problems. Dates are spread out so it's too hard to complete that part of the form below.
2002 Ford Explorer electrical complaints
Page 4 of 6: complaints 71 to 100 of 148, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2002 explorer started out with alot of electrical problems and now depending on how much you push in the gas pedal the transmission starts slipping. Just like alot of other complaints. Had some similar trouble with it about 2 years ago dealer said had to wait till it got worse to find exact problem.
Approached stop sign at a slow rate of speed - basically coasting 30 - 40 feet from a driveway, as the brakes were applied, the engine started to rev up, liken to the cruise control engaging, and brakes could not restrain vehicle and it was basically pushed through the stop sign and collided with an oncoming vehicle, there was insufficient time to put the vehicle in neutral or turn off the engine, this was the first time this ever happened, vehicle was in good condition and mechanically well maintained, the weather was clear and the roads were dry, the vehicle was taken to a dealership to have on-board computer read - no error codes were noted, as a result of the accident - the vehicle was totaled.
Severe cracks in back window housing. Crack is so severe, consideration of window falling out is possible. Information panel registers door ajar which consequently flashes internal lights, re-locks doors, sets warning bells to go off. Often, door ajar does not register, but electric locks lock re-lock and lock many times with warning bells going off, interior lights flickering,many times in one instance. All activities happen intermittently, without cause or reason causing severe distraction to driver. Theft alarm goes off after vehicle has been locked several hours; for no apparent reason. When unlocked and re-locked, continues to go off intermittently. I believe the rear window housing break is the root of all this activity.
Have engine problem warranty will not cover because dealer put back odometer.
Ford explorer o/d flashing and check transmission coming on it was at the ford dealer for 3 weeks they said it was my PCM and now they are saying it a wiring problem but my car is doing the same thing it was before I took it to them.
It started very early after buying the 2002 ford explorer...electrical prob..couldn't get veh started...100 miles away from home dealership....towed to closest ford dealership...fixed; or so we thought. Same thing happened a week later. Home dealership advised us that the other dealership installed the wrong part and it could have caused life-threatening problems....we contacted the other dealership and advised them what our home dealership said...of course the dealership denied this...anyway...home dealership installed new part...veh ok....then wheel bearings had to be replaced in front 1st left side-then right. (this was after the rear end was replaced) boy, was that a major fight with the home dealership! Now! The transmission is gone!!!!! Isn't there something we can do? Ford has been using defective parts!!!!and now asking for government money???!!!!ford should be paying for this!
Battery died on 2002 ford explorer. Installed new battery and 4 wheel drive module quit working. Bought new part for $202.00. Fixed problem with new part. Obviously the realized the defect and refuse to do recall.
Reading the forums and many people have been having problems with their explorers 4x4. I have the same problem. Seems like if you disconnect the battery or your battery dies so does your control module for the 4x4. Mine stopped working when that happened. That is when my 4x4 selector switch lights stopped working and my 4x4 was not engaging. Seems like ford needs to recall this part. I got a new control module and it started working again. Could be dangerous in winter time for this type of vehicle to have no 4x4.
Door ajar constantly on. Interior dome light front and cargo come on and off for minutes at a time. Beeps and chimes sporadically for no given time or reason while driving, stopping, turning or any other action. A distraction to driving; especially dome lights at night and beeps/chimes which can also interfere with radio sound output and attention. Has been in and out of dealer with no result. Have provided other online complaints to service manager regarding same issue with no result.
Purchased a 2002 ford exp eddie bauer ed used with 35,000 miles. Transmission had to be repaired within 3 weeks due to 4wd malfunction covered by warranty. Passenger side window motor assembly has been replaced once, and window regulator has been replaced once, and is in need of a second replacement. Took to local dealership and was told window was not meant to be lowered halfway. The rear hatch has also cracked completely down from window to lower panel. Dealership will not acknowledge issues with this occurring, but upon further research have found this to be a common problem with this vehicle make and model. Overdrive light blinks continuously and dealership reports it to be a malfunctioning electrical switch repair cost at around $400. Have continued to drive vehicle, but will no longer drive vehicle after discovering that this is a precursor to transmission failure. May possibly trade-in this vehicle and lose monetary value for private sale. Will not be responsible for selling this vehicle to a private party and risk injury to next owner. Shame on ford for not taking care of their customers.
My dashboard has digital mileage/ temp and trip....however, since I got the SUV in december of 2007, the cluster that shows that information has not been up. The dealership I bought the SUV from refused to have it fixed and I need to know what I can do without spending alot of money.
Parked my SUV in the driveway after a short trip and the horn began to blow. As I investigated the noise I opened my door to find smoke rolling out uncontrollably. I ran inside to call 911, by the time I hung up the phone my entire truck was engulfed with flames. This just happened today, so I do not know what will be done about it. But this was caused by some defect in the vehicle.
Progressively worse, starting in june 08. Door ajar light comes on randomly when driving, plus the interior lights come on and off (flicker, dangerous if driving at night), bells go on/off, and the doors lock and unlock (never sure which they are). If not driving, the alarm goes off randomly.
I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt, a couple weeks ago I went to open the back lift glass, and the window fell, and combustion in thousands of little pieces, right in my face! I have pictures, anyway I proceeded to take my vehicle to ford motor company in horseheads, ny, they replaced the window due to the explosion, and I have had my truck back there 4 times because they wired it wrong, and they refuse to fix this problem, if my wiring from the back windshield to the dash of my truck does not get fixed I am sorry to say that I will be forced to obtain an attorney for ford! Please help!!!!!!
Bought the car used in sept. 2007. A month and a half later, had to replace rear passenger wheel bearing. A month after that, we had to replace the driver side rear wheel bearing. Driver door window motor went a week after the wheel bearings. Abs light is on. Also had to replace two coils in the electrical unit. Put approximately 3,000.00 into car since purchase in less than eight months.
Door ajar light stays on and causes dome lights to flash on and off and chime while driving. Car alarm goes off randomly for no apparent reason. Have talk to ford they tell me I need to bring it in while this is all happening so they can figure out what's going on. Car never seems to do it at a time I can take it in.
Door ajar light and alarm are coming on intermittently . Also the anti-theft alarm will go off for no reason.
At 110,000 miles both rear passenger windows stopped working. A trip to the dealer said both windows needed new cables and it would cost $1,000. Windows won't go up or down.
2002 ford explorer caught fire. Consumer stated that the vehicle caught fire while his mother was visiting his sister in a different state. No attempt was made to repair her vehicle and rental cost them $600.00 out of pocket. *kb prior to the fire, the consumer asked the mechanic to inspect the vehicle, because warning lights were coming on and going off intermittently. The consumer had a list of documentation relating to electrical issues. The vehicle had to get a jump several times, the vehicle would hesitate when first starting up. The brake lights were stuck, the dealer replaced the brake pedal switch. The cruise control was inoperable so the dealer replaced the brake light switch. The alternator and wheel bearings were replaced.
This 2002 ford explorer eddie bauer abruptly stops while driving at any speed without any notice or indication that the ignition will fail to keep the car running. This car has been to two ford dealerships and one reputable and established independent automotive repair shop. This car was at a toyota dealership for almost 30 days and this car was returned to me with this potentially fatal defect still undiagnosed. None of the aforementioned dealerships could determine the true underlying problem. At the toyota dealership a brand new starter was installed because of a no start condition showing no power to the starter and blown fuses for the injectors, fuel pump, and the computer. The same defect showed itself one day later after traveling over 70 miles with no sign of failure.
On 11/22/2007 my 2002 ford explorer burned, it is a total loss. The fire originated inside the center console. Vehicle was running when smoke first appeared, engine was immediately shut off. Flames erupted within 3-5 minutes from the time smoke first appeared.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle alarm sounds throughout the night while the vehicle is parked and shut off. While driving, the doors lock and unlock, the ceiling lights flicker on and off, and the door ajar buzzer chimes intermittently. The dealer has not been notified. The current mileage was approximately 150,000 and failure mileage was approximately 147,0000.
In two different occasions I had to jump start the 2002 for explorer, I did a battery load test and it was fine also check it while the vehicle was running and all the readings appeared correct and was charging ok.
After owning for a week and a half, had to have the g ears in the rear end replaced. Later informed that the tires were not evenly worn which was causing the rear end to pop. After replacing the tires, the four wheel drive would not work. The 4 x 4 module and the wiring need to be replaced, costing $1000.00. That is not including the driver window switch needing to be replaced as well as the window regulator. Now there is an electrical problem coming from the dash. Unable to figure out what it is yet.
The key ignition switch keeps on getting ground and had to disconnect the battery to pull the key out of the ignition switch. This will be the third time I have to replace the switch.
2002 explorer has 83,500 miles. Discovered that the 4x4 system would not engage. Ganley ford replaced the control module that communicates with the 4x4 system at a total cost of $577.00. The part alone was $293.00. Explanation as to why the balance of the labor was so high was "the control module is difficult to reach up under the dash". Why is that my problem? I had also purchased the gold plan warranty and this part was not covered. Ford's gold plan in my opinion is useless. I will never purchase another ford product again!
Digital odometer display numbers do not light up making it impossible to view cumulative mileage and use of trip computer and compass does not work.
I have a 2002 ford explorer. When it started to get very cold, my explorer, that I just bought, started to not want to go into gear. It would grind and slip. There was a clicking sound coming from under the dash. It was from the computer that runs the 4 wheel drive. The 4 low button would just kick in by its self. Then it would not go into gear. After a while of trying to get it into gear it would go. It would only act up when it was very cold out (10 to -5 degrees) it did this to me for about a week and then it just stuck into 4 low and now won't come out. There was a smell this last time of burning electrical wire and smoke. Now my explorer won't drive and has a electrical smoke smell stuck in it. I now have to have it towed to a ford dealer to get it fixed. It also makes a really loud popping sound when I go to turn or hit a bump. Sound comes from the front of the explorer drivers side.
At 74000 miles our transmission went out completely while we were on vacation! The dealership where we bought the vehicle, said that "we were the only one's who have had this problem" (yeah right!) it cost us $6000 out of our pocket to fix. At 86000 miles the rear window cracked right below the window. Ford and the dealership refuses to fix it. Again, stayton ford told us that,"we were the only people who have had this particular issue." at around 85000, 95000 and 105000 miles, the rear seals leaked. We were promised each time that they would last "for at least 50000 miles." we were always a few miles away from getting them replaced for free since they're limited warranty is only good for 10000 miles. At 111000 miles the electrical system went "haywire." even when all of the door and hatch are closed, the dome light continues to go on and off (making it hard to drive at night) because it senses that a "door is a jar." sometimes, the key pad that's located on the drivers side window sets off the alarm when we push the first number on the key. Totally unreliable vehicle that I'm afraid to drive!
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